Radiate [ON HOLD]

2

My life, flashing before my eyes and that's what scares me the most, I did nothing purposeful.

The scratches from this- thing is burning like someone dropped fire onto my skin. After the stick crashed against it(Surprisingly i have a strong swing for my right arm), I scramble up my heart acting as if i ran a marathon. 

I inspect this thing and it looks familiarly human, in an "I just bathed in the actual garbage" kind of way. Their skin is tinged a dark, unhumanly. It's eerily silent- even more silent than before this thing attacked me. 

A low gargled strangled noise erupts from its mouth. I stumble back tripping over a root, landing flat on my butt. 

It moves. I run.

I sprint as if my life is depending on, back to town. I probably look as if i were bitten by a rabid animal. 

I run to the town square.

"Jason!" I say huffing because I'm out of breath.

"Dove?-Whats wrong?" He asks a worried look washing over his usual joyful eyes. 

"So-something at-attacked me i-in the w-woods." I stutter out.

"What do you mean?" He asks confused.

"I don't know it was just this THING!" I yell now arising attention to myself.

"Listen, where is this 'thing'?" He asks. 

"On the road from the child center to center, you know the long twisty one that is right through the woods?" I ask probably not much help.

"Yea Fred and I will search it, now you go home ok?" He says wobbling away on his wooden peg leg.

I've lost my appetite so I take a brisk walk back to my apartment and barge through the door to where i flop down on the bed, letting out a huge sob.

i never cry, but this for some reason had shaken me. 

---

"Dove Evans! DO I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU!" Georgina yells crashing into the apartment.

"What?" I say wiping my tears.

"You know where you work? Well the new usual shipment of kids, well instead of getting a kid." She pauses. "We got a teen, like our age. He's being put out into the berry fields."

"Really? That's weird. We've never had anyone over the age of 4 months shipped out here." I say puzzled.

"Yea and the weirdest part is he seemed cool about being here." She says flopping down onto the bed next to me. "Supposedly tomorrow he is going to work, he seemed perfectly ready and willing to work."

"Hm. I work in the berry fields, ill let you know if i see him doing anything weird." I say acting as if I'm a detective.

"Perfect! He's super cute too!" Georgina squeals.

Then the neighbor under us bangs something against their ceiling, basically telling us to shut up. But Georgina just slams her foot on the floor and their banging ceases. 

"Ok, the water is only on for another hour so I'm taking a shower." Georgina says getting up and grabbing a towel while walking over to our bathroom.

I lie back down on my bed and take off my berry soaked pants and change into my only nice pajama pants. I leave my usual tee shirt on and open the window. I just lie there for awhile on top of the thin comforter. 

---

I wake up to Georgina shaking me.

"Heyy-stop." I say sleepily.

"No, come on your going to be late!" She yells and i jump out of the bed.

I scramble to put on my work clothes and grab a hair tie on my way out the door.

"Bye!" Georgina yells before i slam the door.

I run to the fields and trip on a rock, i put out my hand to try and block my fall but fail miserably and just topple over from being unbalanced. I get up and dust off my pants and shirt (Well at least try to). I then continue to walk (more carefully) to the check in area where i greet Teresa(My boss basically).

"I'm so sorry im late Teresa. I tripped and overslept." I say with an excuse.

"Ok just don't do it again, kid." She says in her usual hardened voice. "Now look there's a new kid on the job, you help him out."

"Yes, ma'am." I say formally and walk towards an open patch of berries.

"Hey! New kids over there!" Teresa yells at me pointing to the far right of my patch.

"Oh sorry forgot!" I yell back embarrassed.

I make my way over to the far patch where i notice a new boy in the fields. Oh no. This is the boy Georgina was talking about.

As i approach him i notice he has dark hair, that's damp with perspiration. His dark green eyes glistening with satisfaction as he looks at his now fully cleaned through patch, no berry left behind.

Umm Teresa, i don't know if this boy needs to be trained.

"Hi. Teresa wanted me to help train you but i can see you don't need any training." I say quickly hoping he doesn't notice and shrugs it off.

"Well, i do need a little help on where i should put these." He says pointing at 3 basket fulls of berries. "And in Haden."

"Oh ill just help carry those for you, down to the cafeteria." I offer walking over to the baskets. "And in Dove."

"Nah, i got them." He says picking up the baskets. 

"Oh ok," I say and start to lead him towards the cafeteria.

"Sooo...What happened to your arm? Did a shark bite it off or something?" He suggests and i laugh.

"No, i was born this way. What wrong with you?" I ask.

"Nothing." He shrugs.

"Then why are you here?" I ask.

"It depends on who's asking." He smirks.

"Not me, anymore." I chuckle.

We continue to walk but now in an awkward silence. I kick some stones and watch them bounce about a foot in front of me.

"I'll tell you when i feel like i trust you, about the why im here thing." He says.

"Well we are working together now i guess." I say smiling.

"Yea." He says.

"Well, here we are." I say stopping in front of the cafeteria.

"Ok, thanks for walking me here." He says walking inside.

I wait outside totally not watching him through the window go up to Houston and ask him where he wants the berries, you know because of course, I'm not. 

Hey, guys hope you enjoyed this chapter i know you guys are probably a little creeped out by Dove watching him but don't lie to me, you would too. SO please vote, comment, and enjoy!

-Hailee